Johannesburg: You can’t argue: Khama Billiat has been the best footballer this season, and PSL coaches as well as his peers all agree.
The Zimbabwean was the big winner at last night’s PSL awards ceremony at Emperors Palace when he scooped the Players’ Player of the Year, Midfielder of the Year accolades and perhaps the one he will cherish the most in the Footballer of the Year award.
[ View the story "Khama Billiat on the driving sit of PLS awards" on Storify]
In all three categories, Billiat faced competition from his Mamelodi Sundowns teammates Hlompho Kekana and Keagan Dolly, with many of the view that anyone of the trio would have been a worthy winner.
But Billiat – now R450 000 richer – had the most convincing statistics in helping him stand head and shoulders above his teammates.
Billiat scored 12 goals in 26 matches from an attacking midfield position and earned the praise – and sometimes criticism – from his coach Pitso Mosimane, who received the Coach of the Season award. With a bit more composure, Billiat’s goal tally this season would have been more.
The 25-year-old has been linked to several clubs abroad, further proof that his scintillating season has not gone unnoticed.
Mosimane is desperate to hold onto his match-winner, but it appears that he might well be on his way, especially if he can help his national team qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2006.
It is a pity that Kekana and Dolly left empty-handed. Billiat was simply just better throughout the season and the majority of the 16 PSL coaches thought as much. Kekana and Dolly have their championship medals and Bafana Bafana call-ups to console them for their efforts.
Billiat will be the first to acknowledge their contribution as a collective to guide Sundowns to a record seventh PSL title.
They pushed him to reach new heights and out of the Brazilians’ extraordinary campaign, the “CBD”, the acronym for the strike partnership of Leonardo Castro, Billiat and Dolly, was born. An incredible combination, but yet again, Billiat just edged it in scooping all the major awards last night.
Mosimane firmly believes there’s so much more to come from Billiat given his age and potential, but it seems unlikely that we will witness his evolution, with a move overseas beckoning. - Cape Times